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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Thursday, Elul 23, 5777 · September 14, 2017Torah Reading:
Nitzavim: Deuteronomy 29:9-28
Deuteronomy 29:9 (10) “Today you are standing, all of you, before Adonai your God — your heads, your tribes, your leaders and your officers — all the men of Isra’el, 10 (11) along with your little ones, your wives and your foreigners here with you in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water. 11 (12) The purpose is that you should enter into the covenant of Adonai your God and into his oath which Adonai your God is making with you today, (LY: ii) 12 (13) so that he can establish you today for himself as a people, and so that for you he will be God — as he said to you and as he swore to your ancestors, to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov.
13 (14) “But I am not making this covenant and this oath only with you. 14 (15) Rather, I am making it both with him who is standing here with us today before Adonai our God and also with him who is not here with us today. (LY: iii) 15 (16) For you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we came directly through the nations you passed through; 16 (17) and you saw their detestable things and their idols of wood, stone, silver and gold that they had with them. 17 (18) So let there not be among you a man, woman, family or tribe whose heart turns away today from Adonai our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Let there not be among you a root bearing such bitter poison and wormwood. 18 (19) If there is such a person, when he hears the words of this curse, he will bless himself secretly, saying to himself, ‘I will be all right, even though I will stubbornly keep doing whatever I feel like doing; so that I, although “dry,” [sinful,] will be added to the “watered” [righteous].’ 19 (20) But Adonai will not forgive him. Rather, the anger and jealousy of Adonai will blaze up against that person. Every curse written in this book will be upon him. Adonai will blot out his name from under heaven. 20 (21) Adonai will single him out from all the tribes of Isra’el to experience what is bad in all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the Torah.
21 (22) “When the next generation, your children who will grow up after you, and the foreigner who arrives from a distant land, see the plagues of that land and the diseases with which Adonai has made it sick, 22 (23) and that the whole land has become burning sulfur and salt, that it isn’t being sown or bearing crops or even producing grass — like the overthrow of S’dom, ‘Amora, Admah and Tzvoyim, which Adonai overthrew in his furious anger — 23 (24) then all the nations will ask, ‘Why did Adonai do this to this land? What is the meaning of such frenzied, furious anger?’ 24 (25) People will answer, ‘It’s because they abandoned the covenant of Adonai, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 25 (26) They went and served other gods, prostrating themselves before them, gods they had not known and which he had not assigned them. 26 (27) For this reason, the anger of Adonai blazed up against this land and brought upon it every curse written in this book; 27 (28) and Adonai, in anger, fury and incensed with indignation, uprooted them from their land and threw them out into another land — as it is today.’
28 (29) “Things which are hidden belong to Adonai our God. But the things that have been revealed belong to us and our children forever, so that we can observe all the words of this Torah.
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Today's Laws & Customs:
• Elul Observances
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69
Psalms Chapter 67:1. For the Conductor, a song with instrumental music, a psalm.
2. May God be gracious to us and bless us; may He make His countenance shine upon us forever,
3. that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
4. The nations will extol You, O God; all the nations will extol You.
5. The nations will rejoice and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples justly and guide the nations on earth forever.
6. The peoples will extol You, O God; all the peoples will extol You,
7. for the earth will have yielded its produce, and God, our God, will bless us.
8. God will bless us; and all, from the farthest corners of the earth, shall fear Him. Chapter 68:1. For the Conductor; by David, a psalm, a song.
2. Let God rise, let His enemies be scattered, and let His enemies flee before Him.
3. As smoke is driven away, drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God.
4. And the righteous will rejoice, they will exult before God and delight with joy.
5. Sing to God, chant praises to His Name; extol Him Who rides upon the heavens with His Name, Yah, and exult before Him.
6. A father of orphans and judge of widows is God, in the abode of His holiness.
7. God settles the solitary into a home, and frees those bound in shackles; but the rebellious [are left to] dwell in an arid land.
8. O God, when You went out before Your nation, when You marched through the wilderness, Selah,
9. the earth trembled, even the heavens dripped before the presence of God; this mountain of Sinai [trembled] before the presence of God, the God of Israel.
10. You poured generous rain, O God; when Your heritage was weary, You secured it.
11. Your flock settled there; in Your goodness, O God, You prepare for the poor.
12. My Lord will fulfill the word of the heralds to a great legion:
13. Kings of armies will flee, they will flee; and she who inhabits the home will divide the loot.
14. Even if you lie upon the hearth,1 [you will be like] wings of a dove covered with silver, her pinions with brilliant gold.
15. When the Almighty scatters kings in her midst, those in the shadow of darkness will be made snow-white.
16. The mountain of God is a fertile mountain, the mountain of majestic peaks is a fertile mountain.
17. Why do you prance, O mountains of peaks? This is the mountain God has desired as His dwelling; the Lord will even dwell there forever.
18. The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, [with] thousands of angels; my Lord is in their midst, at Sinai, in holiness.
19. You ascended on high and took a captive,2 you seized gifts for man; and [now] even rebels dwell with Yah, God.
20. Blessed is my Lord, Who each day loads us [with beneficence], the God Who is our deliverance forever.
21. The Lord is a God of deliverances for us; and to God, my Lord, are the many avenues of death.
22. God alone crushes the heads of His enemies, the hairy skull of him who goes about in his guilt.
23. My Lord said, "I will bring back from Bashan,3 I will bring back from the depths of the sea,
24. that your foot may wade through [the enemy's] blood; that the tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”
25. They saw Your ways, O God, the ways of my God, my King, in holiness.
26. The singers began, then the musicians, in the midst of the maidens playing timbrels.
27. In assemblies bless God; [bless] my Lord, O you who stem from Israel.
28. There Benjamin, the youngest, rules them; the princes of Judah stone them, [as do] the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
29. Your God has decreed your strength. Show Your strength, O God, Who has wrought this for our sake.
30. Because of [the glory of] Your Sanctuary upon Jerusalem, kings will bring You tribute.
31. Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the assembly of mighty bulls among the calves of nations, [until] each submits himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the nations that desire wars.
32. Nobles will come from Egypt; Kush will hasten [to raise] its hands to God.
33. Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praise to my Lord forever!
34. To the One Who rides upon the loftiest of ancient heavens-behold He gives forth His voice, a voice of might.
35. Ascribe power to God; His majesty is over Israel, and His might is in the skies.
36. God, You are feared from Your Sanctuary; it is the God of Israel Who grants strength and power to His people; blessed is God. Chapter 69:1. For the Conductor, on the shoshanim,1 by David.
2. Deliver me, O God, for the waters have reached until my soul!
3. I have sunk in muddy depths without foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the current sweeps me away.
4. I am wearied by my crying, my throat is parched; my eyes pined while waiting for my God.
5. More numerous than the hairs on my head are those who hate me without reason. Mighty are those who would cut me off, those who are my enemies without cause. What I have not stolen, I will then have to return.
6. O God, You know my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden from You.
7. Let not those who hope in You be shamed through me, O my Lord, God of Hosts; let not those who seek You be disgraced through me, O God of Israel,
8. because for Your sake I have borne humiliation, disgrace covers my face.
9. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons,
10. for the envy of Your House has consumed me, and the humiliations of those who scorn You have fallen upon me.
11. And I wept while my soul fasted, and it was a humiliation to me.
12. I made sackcloth my garment, and became a byword for them.
13. Those who sit by the gate speak of me, and [of me] are the songs of drunkards.
14. May my prayer to You, Lord, be at a gracious time; God, in Your abounding kindness, answer me with Your true deliverance.
15. Rescue me from the mire, so that I not sink; let me be saved from my enemies and from deep waters.
16. Let not the current of water sweep me away, nor the deep swallow me; and let not the pit close its mouth over me.
17. Answer me, Lord, for Your kindness is good; according to Your abundant mercies, turn to me.
18. Do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress-hurry to answer me.
19. Draw near to my soul and liberate it; redeem me, so that my enemies [not feel triumphant].
20. You know my humiliation, my shame, and my disgrace; all my tormentors are before You.
21. Humiliation has broken my heart, and I have become ill. I longed for comfort, but there was none; for consolers, but I did not find.
22. They put gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
23. Let their table become a trap before them, and [their] serenity, a snare.
24. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and let their loins continually falter.
25. Pour Your wrath upon them, and let the fierceness of Your anger overtake them.
26. Let their palace be desolate, let there be no dweller in their tents,
27. for they persecute the one whom You struck, and tell of the pain of Your wounded ones.
28. Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not enter into Your righteousness.
29. May they be erased from the Book of Life, and let them not be inscribed with the righteous.
30. But I am poor and in pain; let Your deliverance, O God, streng-then me.
31. I will praise the Name of God with song, I will extol Him with thanksgiving!
32. And it will please the Lord more than [the sacrifice of] a mature bull with horns and hooves.
33. The humble will see it and rejoice; you seekers of God, [see] and your hearts will come alive.
34. For the Lord listens to the needy, and He does not despise His prisoners.
35. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that moves within them,
36. for God will deliver Zion and build the cities of Judah, and they will settle there and possess it;
37. and the seed of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His Name will dwell in it.
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
Links: More on Elul
Today in Jewish History:
• Dove brings Olive Leaf (2105 BCE)
On the 301st day of the great Flood, Noah sent a dove for the 2nd time from the ark (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 17). This time, the dove stayed away all day; "the dove came in to him in the evening, and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off; and Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth" (Genesis 8:11).
• 9/11 Terrorist Attacks (2001)On a sunny fall morning, Islamic terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger airplanes. Two were crashed into the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan. A third was rammed into the Pentagon, the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. The last plane was intended for Washington as well, but crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. In total, almost 3,000 people died in the attacks, including the 227 civilians and 19 hijackers aboard the four planes. It also was the deadliest incident for firefighters in the history of the United States.
Known as 9/11, the events of the day deeply affected the American approach to security and diplomacy, instigating the global War on Terror.
Link: Looking Back at Nine Eleven
Daily Quote:
"I will make your descendents like the dust of the earth" (Genesis 13:17). As the dust of the earth is everywhere, so, too, will the people of Israel be scattered from one end of the world to the other. As dust is treaded upon by all, so, too, will Israel be treaded upon by all. As dust erodes all metals while it itself lasts forever, so is it with Israel: all nations disintegrate, while they persist.[ Midrash Rabbah]
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Nitzavim-Vayelech, 5th Portion Deuteronomy 31:7-31:13 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 31
7And Moses called Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous! For you shall come with this people to the land which the Lord swore to their forefathers to give them. And you shall apportion it to them as an inheritance. זוַיִּקְרָ֨א משֶׁ֜ה לִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו לְעֵינֵ֣י כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ חֲזַ֣ק וֶֽאֱמָץ֒ כִּ֣י אַתָּ֗ה תָּבוֹא֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהֹוָ֛ה לַֽאֲבֹתָ֖ם לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם וְאַתָּ֖ה תַּנְחִילֶ֥נָּה אוֹתָֽם:
for you shall come with this people: Heb. כִּי אַתָּה תָּבוֹא אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה [as the Targum renders:]“For you shall come with this people,” [hence, the אֶת here means “with.” Accordingly, Moses’ statement of leadership role to Joshua can be understood as follows]: Moses said to Joshua, “The elders of the generation will be with you, [for] everything should be done according to their opinion and counsel.” In contrast, however, the Holy One, Blessed is He, said to Joshua,“For you shall bring (תָּבִיא) the children of Israel to the land which I have sworn to them” (verse 23). [God’s statement of leadership role to Joshua here means:] “You shall bring them [even if it is] against their will! Everything depends [only] upon you; [if necessary,] you must take a rod and beat them over their heads! There can be [only] one leader for a generation, not two leaders for a generation.”- [Sanh. . 8a]
כי אתה תבוא את העם הזה: ארי את תיעול עם עמא הדין. משה אמר לו ליהושע, זקנים שבדור יהיו עמך הכל לפי דעתן ועצתן, אבל הקדוש ברוך הוא אמר ליהושע כי אתה תביא את בני ישראל אל הארץ אשר נשבעתי להם (דברים לא, כג), תביא על כרחם הכל תלוי בך, טול מקל והך על קדקדן. דבר אחד לדור, ולא שני דברים לדור:
8The Lord He is the One Who goes before you; He will be with you; He will neither fail you, nor forsake you. Do not fear, and do not be dismayed." חוַֽיהֹוָ֞ה ה֣וּא | הַֽהֹלֵ֣ךְ לְפָנֶ֗יךָ ה֚וּא יִֽהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א יַֽעַזְבֶ֑ךָּ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א וְלֹ֥א תֵחָֽת:
9Then Moses wrote this Torah, and gave it to the priests, the descendants of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. טוַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב משֶׁה֘ אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּאת֒ וַיִּתְּנָ֗הּ אֶל־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י הַנֹּ֣שְׂאִ֔ים אֶת־אֲר֖וֹן בְּרִ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֶל־כָּל־זִקְנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
And Moses then wrote [this Torah] and gave it [to the kohanim]: When it was entirely completed, he gave it to the members of his tribe [i.e., Levi. The verse here is referring to the entire Torah as we know it. Compare Rashi on verse 11].
ויכתוב משה וגו' ויתנה: כשנגמרה כלה, נתנה לבני שבטו:
10Then, Moses commanded them, saying, "At the end of [every] seven years, at an appointed time, in the Festival of Succoth, [after] the year of release, יוַיְצַ֥ו משֶׁ֖ה אוֹתָ֣ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִקֵּ֣ץ | שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֗ים בְּמֹעֵ֛ד שְׁנַ֥ת הַשְּׁמִטָּ֖ה בְּחַ֥ג הַסֻּכּֽוֹת:
At the end of [every] seven years: [When the verse says “end,” it refers to] the first year of the [recurring, seven-year] Shemittah [cycle, which is, effectively, the “end” of the previous cycle]. This is the eighth year [of the cycle] (Sotah 41a). [Now, only the seventh year of each cycle is actually called the Shemittah year, so] why is [this eighth year] referred to [here in the verse] as “ Shemittah ”? Because the [laws of the] seventh year still apply to it, in that the harvest [of the produce] at the end of the seventh year extends into the year following the seventh. Therefore, all the laws pertaining to the seventh year apply to this produce, even though the eighth year has already begun. — [R.H. 12b]
מקץ שבע שנים: בשנה ראשונה של שמטה, שהיא שנה בשמינית. ולמה קורא אותה שנת השמטה, שעדיין שביעית נוהגת בה בקציר של שביעית היוצא למוצאי שביעית:
11When all Israel comes to appear before the Lord, your God, in the place He will choose, you shall read this Torah before all Israel, in their ears. יאבְּב֣וֹא כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֵֽרָאוֹת֙ אֶת־פְּנֵי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בַּמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִבְחָ֑ר תִּקְרָ֞א אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את נֶ֥גֶד כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאָזְנֵיהֶֽם:
you shall read this Torah: The king [of Israel] would read from the beginning of “These are the words…” (Deut. 1:1), as we find in tractate Sotah (41a). [Thus, in contrast to verse 9, the expression, “this Torah” refers to just the book of Deuteronomy. See Rashi on verse 9. When reading the book of Deuteronomy to the people at that appointed time, the king would sit] upon a wooden platform that was erected in the courtyard [of the Temple].
תקרא את התורה הזאת: המלך היה קורא מתחלת אלה הדברים, כדאיתא במסכת סוטה (מא א) על בימה של עץ שהיו עושין בעזרה:
12Assemble the people: the men, the women, and the children, and your stranger in your cities, in order that they hear, and in order that they learn and fear the Lord, your God, and they will observe to do all the words of this Torah. יבהַקְהֵ֣ל אֶת־הָעָ֗ם הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְהַנָּשִׁים֙ וְהַטַּ֔ף וְגֵֽרְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֨עַן יִשְׁמְע֜וּ וּלְמַ֣עַן יִלְמְד֗וּ וְיָֽרְאוּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְשָֽׁמְר֣וּ לַֽעֲשׂ֔וֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת:
The men: [were to be there, in order] to learn [the words of the Torah being read];
האנשים: ללמוד:
the women: [were to be present, in order] to listen [to those words];
והנשים: לשמוע:
the children: Why did they come? So that a reward would be given to those who bring them along. — [Chag. 3a]
והטף: למה בא, לתת שכר למביאיהם:
13And their children, who did not know, will hear and learn to fear the Lord, your God, all the days that you live on the land, to which you are crossing the Jordan, to possess. יגוּבְנֵיהֶ֞ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יָֽדְע֗וּ יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ וְלָ֣מְד֔וּ לְיִרְאָ֖ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם כָּל־הַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֤ם חַיִּים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹֽבְרִ֧ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 108 - 112
• Hebrew text
• English text
Special Custom for the Month of Elul and High Holidays
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
See below for today's additional chapters.
Chapter 108
1. A song, a psalm by David.
2. My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and chant praises even with my soul.
3. Awake, O lyre and harp; I shall awaken the dawn.
4. I will thank You among the nations, Lord; I will sing praises to You among the peoples.
5. Indeed, Your kindness reaches above the heavens; Your truth reaches to the skies.
6. Be exalted upon the heavens, O God, [show] Your glory upon all the earth.
7. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me.
8. God spoke in His holiness that I would exult, I would divide portions [of the enemies' land], I would measure the Valley of Succot.
9. Mine is Gilead, mine is Manasseh, and Ephraim is the stronghold of my head, Judah is my prince.
10. Moab is my washbasin, I will cast my shoe upon Edom, I will shout over Philistia.
11. Who brings me to the fortified city? Who led me unto Edom?
12. Is it not God, Who has [until now] forsaken us, and did not go forth, O God, with our armies?
13. Give us help against the adversary; futile is the help of man.
14. Through God we will do valiantly, and He will trample our oppressors.
Chapter 109
David composed this psalm while fleeing from Saul. At that time he faced many enemies who, despite acting friendly in his presence, spoke only evil of him; he therefore curses them bitterly.
1. For the Conductor, by David, a psalm. O God of my praise, be not silent.
2. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me; they spoke to me with a false tongue.
3. They have surrounded me with words of hate, and attacked me without cause.
4. In return for my love they hate me; still, I am [a man of] prayer.
5. They placed harm upon me in return for my favor, and hatred in return for my love.
6. Appoint a wicked man over him; let an adversary stand at his right.
7. When he is judged may he go out condemned; may his prayer be considered a sin.
8. May his days be few; may another take his position.
9. May his children be orphans and his wife a widow.
10. May his children wander about and beg; may they seek charity from amid their ruins.
11. May the creditor seize all that he has, and may strangers plunder [the fruits of] his labor.
12. May he have none who extends him kindness, and may none be gracious to his orphans.
13. May his posterity be cut off; may their name be erased in a later generation.
14. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by the Lord, and the sin of his mother not be erased.
15. May they be before the Lord always, and may He cut off their memory from the earth.
16. Because he did not remember to do kindness, and he pursued the poor and destitute man and the broken-hearted, to kill [him].
17. He loved the curse and it has come upon him; he did not desire blessing, and it has remained far from him.
18. He donned the curse like his garment, and it came like water into his innards, like oil into his bones.
19. May it be to him like a cloak in which he wraps himself, as a belt with which he girds himself always.
20. This is from the Lord for the deeds of my enemies, and [for] those who speak evil against my soul.
21. And You, God, my Lord, do [kindness] with me for the sake of Your Name; for Your kindness is good, rescue me!
22. For I am poor and destitute, and my heart has died within me.
23. Like the fleeting shadow I am banished, I am tossed about like the locust.
24. My knees totter from fasting, and my flesh is lean without fat.
25. And I became a disgrace to them; they see me and shake their heads.
26. Help me, Lord, my God, deliver me according to Your kindness.
27. Let them know that this is Your hand, that You, Lord, have done it.
28. Let them curse, but You will bless; they arose, but they will be shamed, and Your servant will rejoice.
29. May my adversaries be clothed in humiliation; may they wrap themselves in their shame as in a cloak.
30. I will thank the Lord profusely with my mouth, and amid the multitude I will praise Him,
31. when He stands at the right of the destitute one to deliver him from the condemners of his soul.
Chapter 110
This psalm records the response of Eliezer, servant of Abraham (to those who asked how Abraham managed to defeat the four kings). He tells of Abraham killing the mighty kings and their armies. Read, and you will discover that the entire psalm refers to Abraham, who merited prominence for recognizing God in his youth.
1. By David, a psalm. The Lord said to my master, "Sit at My right, until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.”
2. The staff of your strength the Lord will send from Zion, to rule amid your enemies.
3. Your people [will come] willingly on the day of your campaign; because of your splendid sanctity from when you emerged from the womb, you still possess the dew of your youth.
4. The Lord has sworn and will not regret: "You shall be a priest forever, just as Melchizedek!”
5. My Lord is at your right; He has crushed kings on the day of His fury.
6. He will render judgement upon the nations, and they will be filled with corpses; He will crush heads over a vast land.
7. He will drink from the stream on the way, and so will hold his head high.
Chapter 111
This psalm is written in alphabetical sequence, each verse containing two letters, save the last two verses which contain three letters each. The psalm is short yet prominent, speaking of the works of God and their greatness.
1. Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, in the counsel of the upright and the congregation.
2. Great are the works of the Lord, [yet] available to all who desire them.
3. Majesty and splendor are His work, and His righteousness endures forever.
4. He established a memorial for His wonders, for the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5. He gave food to those who fear Him; He remembered His covenant always.
6. He has declared the power of His deeds to His people, to give them the inheritance of nations.
7. The works of His hands are true and just; all His mandates are faithful.
8. They are steadfast for ever and ever, for they are made with truth and uprightness.
9. He sent redemption to His people, [by] commanding His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His Name.
10. The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord; sound wisdom for all who practice it-His praise endures forever.
Chapter 112
This psalm, too, follows alphabetical sequence, each verse containing two letters, save the last two which contain three letters each. It speaks of the good traits man should choose, and of how to give charity-the reward for which is never having to rely on others.
1. Praise the Lord! Fortunate is the man who fears the Lord, and desires His commandments intensely.
2. His descendants will be mighty on the earth; he will be blessed with an upright generation.
3. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
4. Even in darkness light shines for the upright, for [He is] Compassionate, Merciful, and Just.
5. Good is the man who is compassionate and lends, [but] provides for his own needs with discretion.
6. For he will never falter; the righteous man will be an eternal remembrance.
7. He will not be afraid of a bad tiding; his heart is steadfast, secure in the Lord.
8. His heart is steadfast, he does not fear, until he sees his oppressors [destroyed].
9. He has distributed [his wealth], giving to the needy. His righteousness will endure forever; his might will be uplifted in honor.
10. The wicked man will see and be angry; he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the wish of the wicked will be ruined.
Additional Three Chapters
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Today's Chapters are 67, 68 and 69.
Chapter 67
This psalm is known as an especially revered prayer. It, too, speaks of the era of the ingathering of the exiles, and the wars of Gog and Magog, a time when "the Lord will be One."
1. For the Conductor, a song with instrumental music, a psalm.
2. May God be gracious to us and bless us; may He make His countenance shine upon us forever,
3. that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
4. The nations will extol You, O God; all the nations will extol You.
5. The nations will rejoice and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples justly and guide the nations on earth forever.
6. The peoples will extol You, O God; all the peoples will extol You,
7. for the earth will have yielded its produce, and God, our God, will bless us.
8. God will bless us; and all, from the farthest corners of the earth, shall fear Him.
Chapter 68
An awe-inspiring and wondrous prayer, David composed this psalm referring to a future event, when Sennacherib would surround Jerusalem on Passover, during the reign of Hezekiah. He also prophesies about the good we will enjoy during the Messianic era.
1. For the Conductor; by David, a psalm, a song.
2. Let God rise, let His enemies be scattered, and let His enemies flee before Him.
3. As smoke is driven away, drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God.
4. And the righteous will rejoice, they will exult before God and delight with joy.
5. Sing to God, chant praises to His Name; extol Him Who rides upon the heavens with His Name, Yah, and exult before Him.
6. A father of orphans and judge of widows is God, in the abode of His holiness.
7. God settles the solitary into a home, and frees those bound in shackles; but the rebellious [are left to] dwell in an arid land.
8. O God, when You went out before Your nation, when You marched through the wilderness, Selah,
9. the earth trembled, even the heavens dripped before the presence of God; this mountain of Sinai [trembled] before the presence of God, the God of Israel.
10. You poured generous rain, O God; when Your heritage was weary, You secured it.
11. Your flock settled there; in Your goodness, O God, You prepare for the poor.
12. My Lord will fulfill the word of the heralds to a great legion:
13. Kings of armies will flee, they will flee; and she who inhabits the home will divide the loot.
14. Even if you lie upon the hearth,1 [you will be like] wings of a dove covered with silver, her pinions with brilliant gold.
15. When the Almighty scatters kings in her midst, those in the shadow of darkness will be made snow-white.
16. The mountain of God is a fertile mountain, the mountain of majestic peaks is a fertile mountain.
17. Why do you prance, O mountains of peaks? This is the mountain God has desired as His dwelling; the Lord will even dwell there forever.
18. The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, [with] thousands of angels; my Lord is in their midst, at Sinai, in holiness.
19. You ascended on high and took a captive,2 you seized gifts for man; and [now] even rebels dwell with Yah, God.
20. Blessed is my Lord, Who each day loads us [with beneficence], the God Who is our deliverance forever.
21. The Lord is a God of deliverances for us; and to God, my Lord, are the many avenues of death.
22. God alone crushes the heads of His enemies, the hairy skull of him who goes about in his guilt.
23. My Lord said, "I will bring back from Bashan,3 I will bring back from the depths of the sea,
24. that your foot may wade through [the enemy's] blood; that the tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”
25. They saw Your ways, O God, the ways of my God, my King, in holiness.
26. The singers began, then the musicians, in the midst of the maidens playing timbrels.
27. In assemblies bless God; [bless] my Lord, O you who stem from Israel.
28. There Benjamin, the youngest, rules them; the princes of Judah stone them, [as do] the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
29. Your God has decreed your strength. Show Your strength, O God, Who has wrought this for our sake.
30. Because of [the glory of] Your Sanctuary upon Jerusalem, kings will bring You tribute.
31. Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the assembly of mighty bulls among the calves of nations, [until] each submits himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the nations that desire wars.
32. Nobles will come from Egypt; Kush will hasten [to raise] its hands to God.
33. Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praise to my Lord forever!
34. To the One Who rides upon the loftiest of ancient heavens-behold He gives forth His voice, a voice of might.
35. Ascribe power to God; His majesty is over Israel, and His might is in the skies.
36. God, You are feared from Your Sanctuary; it is the God of Israel Who grants strength and power to His people; blessed is God.
Chapter 69
1. For the Conductor, on the shoshanim,1 by David.
2. Deliver me, O God, for the waters have reached until my soul!
3. I have sunk in muddy depths without foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the current sweeps me away.
4. I am wearied by my crying, my throat is parched; my eyes pined while waiting for my God.
5. More numerous than the hairs on my head are those who hate me without reason. Mighty are those who would cut me off, those who are my enemies without cause. What I have not stolen, I will then have to return.
6. O God, You know my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden from You.
7. Let not those who hope in You be shamed through me, O my Lord, God of Hosts; let not those who seek You be disgraced through me, O God of Israel,
8. because for Your sake I have borne humiliation, disgrace covers my face.
9. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons,
10. for the envy of Your House has consumed me, and the humiliations of those who scorn You have fallen upon me.
11. And I wept while my soul fasted, and it was a humiliation to me.
12. I made sackcloth my garment, and became a byword for them.
13. Those who sit by the gate speak of me, and [of me] are the songs of drunkards.
14. May my prayer to You, Lord, be at a gracious time; God, in Your abounding kindness, answer me with Your true deliverance.
15. Rescue me from the mire, so that I not sink; let me be saved from my enemies and from deep waters.
16. Let not the current of water sweep me away, nor the deep swallow me; and let not the pit close its mouth over me.
17. Answer me, Lord, for Your kindness is good; according to Your abundant mercies, turn to me.
18. Do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress-hurry to answer me.
19. Draw near to my soul and liberate it; redeem me, so that my enemies [not feel triumphant].
20. You know my humiliation, my shame, and my disgrace; all my tormentors are before You.
21. Humiliation has broken my heart, and I have become ill. I longed for comfort, but there was none; for consolers, but I did not find.
22. They put gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
23. Let their table become a trap before them, and [their] serenity, a snare.
24. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and let their loins continually falter.
25. Pour Your wrath upon them, and let the fierceness of Your anger overtake them.
26. Let their palace be desolate, let there be no dweller in their tents,
27. for they persecute the one whom You struck, and tell of the pain of Your wounded ones.
28. Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not enter into Your righteousness.
29. May they be erased from the Book of Life, and let them not be inscribed with the righteous.
30. But I am poor and in pain; let Your deliverance, O God, streng-then me.
31. I will praise the Name of God with song, I will extol Him with thanksgiving!
32. And it will please the Lord more than [the sacrifice of] a mature bull with horns and hooves.
33. The humble will see it and rejoice; you seekers of God, [see] and your hearts will come alive.
34. For the Lord listens to the needy, and He does not despise His prisoners.
35. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that moves within them,
36. for God will deliver Zion and build the cities of Judah, and they will settle there and possess it;
37. and the seed of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His Name will dwell in it.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 16
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Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 16
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והנה זהו על פי שורת הדין גמור
Now, the above follows the exact requirements of the law.
אבל באמת, גם אם הוא ענין דלא שייך כל כך האי טעמא
In fact, however, even in a case where such reasoning does not so fully apply,
I.e., even when (a) one is called upon to share not luxuries but one’s own slice of bread, or even when (b) the poor are not crying out for food and clothing, but for other essentials,
ראוי לכל אדם שלא לדקדק להעמיד על הדין
it is not proper that any man insist on the letter of the law;
רק לדחוק חייו, וליכנס לפני ולפנים משורת הדין
rather, he should impose austerity on his own life and go far beyond the [demands of the] letter of the law.
ולדאוג לעצמו ממאמר רז״ל, שכל המדקדק בכך, סוף בא לידי כך, חס ושלום
Moreover, one should be concerned,1 for his own sake, with the teaching of our Sages,2 of blessed memory, that — even in a situation where “that which is yours takes precedence over that which belongs to others” — he who is exacting in this matter, and does not go beyond the letter of the law, “will eventually be brought to this matter”: he himself will ultimately need charity, heaven forfend.
וגם כי כולנו צריכים לרחמי שמים בכל עת
And after all, all of us need the mercies of heaven at all times,3
באתערותא דלתתא דוקא, בכל עת ובכל שעה
[which are elicited] only through an arousal from below, at all times and at every moment,
לעורר רחמינו על הצריכים לרחמים
by arousing our compassion for those who are in need of compassion.
וכל המאמץ לבבו וכובש רחמיו, יהיה מאיזה טעם שיהיה, גורם כך למעלה לכבוש וכו׳, חס ושלום
But whoever hardens his heart and suppresses his compassion, for whatever reason, causes the same above — the suppression of [Divine compassion], heaven forfend.
All this however, affects only the future. [The Rebbe, however, notes:] “And the present as well, causing one to give until the recipient is equal ‘with you.’” [Cf. footnote 7, above.] There is, however, an aspect of tzedakahthat also affects the past, [and the Rebbe adds:] “causing one to give to an even greater degree than what he keeps for himself, since this is” to secure the rectification and atonement of his past sins.
ומה גם כי אדם אין צדיק בארץ, אשר יעשה טוב תמיד ולא יחטא
After all, furthermore,4 “There is not a righteous person upon earth who does good” — always — “and does not sin,”
וצדקה מכפרת, ומגינה מן הפורענות וכו׳
ולזאת היא רפואת הגוף ונפש ממש
[Charity] is thus an actual cure for body and soul,7
אשר עור בעד עור, וכל אשר לאיש יתן בעד נפשו
with respect to which [it is written],8”Skin for skin — a limb for a limb, and all that a man has he will give for his soul,” i.e., to save his life.
Setting a limit to the amount one distributes for charity is thus just as unthinkable as limiting the sum one would spend in order to be cured and to stay alive.
בשגם אנו מאמינים בני מאמינים כי הצדקה אינה רק הלואה להקב״ה
How much more does this apply, when we are9 “believers, the descendants of believers,” in the fact that charity is nothing other than a loan to the Holy One, blessed be He,10
כדכתיב: מלוה ה׳ חונן דל, וגמולו ישלם לו בכפליים בעולם הזה
as it is written,11 “He who is gracious unto the poor, lends unto G‑d, and He will repay him his good deed” — twofold, in this world.
דשכר כל המצוות ליכא בעולם הזה, לבד מצדקה, לפי שהיא טוב לבריות, כדאיתא בקדושין, סוף פרק קמא
For the performance of none of the commandments is rewarded in this world — except for charity,12 because it is beneficial to creatures,13 as is written at the end of the first chapter of Kiddushin.14
וגם יש לחוש לעונש, חס ושלום, כשחבריו נמנים לדבר מצוה, והוא לא נמנה עמהם
Also, one should be concerned about punishment,15 heaven forfend, when one’s companions associate for the sake of a mitzvah and he does not join them,16
This would be the case if one were to absent oneself when the other members of one’s community were joining forces for the sake of the charitable cause under discussion, viz., the Kollel Chabad Fund.
כנודע ממאמר רז״ל
as is known from the words of our Sages,17 of blessed memory, who teach that standing aside in such circumstances is an instance of18 “an absence for which one cannot [again] be counted.”
ולשומעים יונעם, ותבא עליהם ברכת טוב בכל מילי דמיטב
May life be pleasant for those who give heed, and may blessings of all kinds of goodness rest upon them.19
הטיבה ה׳ לטובים וישרים
“Act benevolently, O G‑d, toward the good and the upright,”20
כנפשם ונפש הדורש שלומם מכל לב ונפש
as is their wish and as is the wish of [the writer], who seeks their welfare with all his heart and soul.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Note of the Rebbe: “Concerned: (a) for the future, (b) for his own livelihood.” [See footnote 12, below.] |
| 2. | The wording in the Gemara (Bava Metzia 33a) is that “He who acts (and Rashi paraphrases, ‘is exacting’) for himself in this matter will eventually be brought to this matter,” heaven forfend. See also Dikdukei Sofrim. |
| 3. | The Rebbe adds, “...with regard to: (a) the present, (b) for his children and health as well.” [I.e., for the remaining two items in the trilogy of חיי, בני ומזוני; cf. Moed Katan 28a.] |
| 4. | Kohelet 7:20. |
| 5. | See Devarim Rabbah 5:3. |
| 6. | See Vayikra Rabbah, beginning of sec. 27. |
| 7. | See Tanchuma, Mishpatim, sec. 15. |
| 8. | Iyov 11:14. See also Iggeret HaTeshuvah, end of ch. 3. |
| 9. | Shabbat 97a. |
| 10. | See Bava Batra 10a, and commentaries there of Rashi and of the Chiddushei Aggadot of the Maharal. |
| 11. | Mishlei 19:17. |
| 12. | Note of the Rebbe: “The absence of reward in this world for other mitzvot would not seem to be relevant here, unlike the positive statement that follows it, regarding the reward for tzedakah. Its mention could be understood as alluding to yet another reason for giving tzedakah: nothing exists in this world by virtue of which one may be assured of sustenance, other than the giving of tzedakah (where, as the Alter Rebbe writes, one’s contribution is rewarded ‘twofold’).” |
| 13. |
Note of the Rebbe: “Though there seems to be no evident reason for citing the reason here, perhaps the Alter Rebbe is thereby hinting that even if the needy individual is unworthy of being included in the category of ‘your brother,’ he is still worthy of your contribution inasmuch as he is nevertheless in the category of [G‑d’s] ‘creatures’. (See Tanya, ch. 32.)“
This observation happily completes a series of lessons, in which the Alter Rebbe has been teaching us to overcome three possible restrictive interpretations of the above-quoted verse, וחי אחיך עמך — ‘...so that your brother may live with you’ (Vayikra 25:36): (a) though the verse obliges us to give ‘so that your brother may live,’ one should not provide him only with the bare essentials; (b) ‘your brother’ should not be interpreted so narrowly as to exclude mere ‘creatures’; (a) ‘with you’ should bring the recipient to a state of more than mere equality with the donor.”
|
| 14. | 40a. |
| 15. | The Rebbe adds, “...and not only about not receiving the reward.” |
| 16. | Note of the Rebbe: “Thus, even if one has already given as much tzedakah as he ought to, so that all the above considerations have been attended to, he must nevertheless give again when his companions join to perform a charitable mitzvah together. This is an original teaching first appearing in the above letter.” |
| 17. | Chagigah 9b; Berachot 26a. |
| 18. | Kohelet 1:15. |
| 19. | Cf. Mishlei 24:25. |
| 20. | Cf. Tehillim 125:4. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Thursday, Elul 23, 5777 · September 14, 2017
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Negative Commandment 285
False Testimony
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor"—Exodus 20:13.
It is forbidden to testify falsely.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
False Testimony
Negative Commandment 285
Translated by Berel Bell
The 285th prohibition is that we are forbidden from giving false testimony.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not testify as a false witness (eid sheker) against your neighbor." This prohibition is repeated using a different expression,2 "as a perjurous witness" (eid shav).
Scripture3 dictates the punishment for one who violates this prohibition, "You must do the same to them as they plotted to do to their brother." The Mechilta says,4 "The verse, 'Do not testify as a false witness' is the prohibition regarding false witnesses (eidim zom'mim5)"
The punishment for violating this prohibition is lashes, as explained in the last chapter6 of tractate Makkos, where the details of this mitzvah are explained.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 20:13
2.Deut. 5:17.
3.Ibid., 19:19.
4.Parshas Yisro. Evidently the Rambam quotes the Mechilta because the phrase "the prohibition" proves that this verse constitutes a Biblical prohibition and therefore included in the count of the 613 mitzvos.
5.Eidim zom'mim are a particular type of false witnesses, who have been proven false by virtue of testimony that they were not present at the event they claim to have witnessed. If Reuven and Shimon testified, for example, that they saw Levi kill Yehudah, they could be proven to be eidim zom'mim if others testify that they saw Reuven and Shimon in another city on that day. If this happens, Reuven and Shimon are put to death since this is what they tried to have inflicted on Levi. See the next mitzvah, P180.
6.4b. This should evidently read, "first chapter." See Kapach, 5731, footnote 1.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Avel Avel - Chapter 14
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1
It is a positive commandment of Rabbinic origin to visit the sick, comfort mourners, to prepare for a funeral, prepare a bride, accompany guests, attend to all the needs of a burial, carry a corpse on one shoulders, walk before the bier, mourn, dig a grave, and bury the dead, and also to bring joy to a bride and groom and help them in all their needs. These are deeds of kindness that one carries out with his person that have no limit.
Although all these mitzvot are of Rabbinic origin, they are included in the Scriptural commandment Leviticus 19:18: "Love your neighbor as yourself." That charge implies that whatever you would like other people to do for you, you should do for your comrade in the Torah and mitzvot.
א
מצות עשה של דבריהם לבקר חולים ולנחם אבלים ולהוציא המת ולהכניס הכלה וללוות האורחים ולהתעסק בכל צרכי הקבורה לשאת על הכתף ולילך לפניו ולספוד ולחפור ולקבור וכן לשמח הכלה והחתן ולסעדם בכל צרכיהם ואלו הן גמילות חסדים שבגופו שאין להם שיעור אף על פי שכל מצות אלו מדבריהם הרי הן בכלל ואהבת לרעך כמוך כל הדברים שאתה רוצה שיעשו אותם לך אחרים עשה אתה אותן לאחיך בתורה ובמצות:
2
The reward one receives for accompanying guests is greater than all of the others. This is a statute which Abraham our Patriarch instituted and the path of kindness which he would follow. He would feed wayfarers, provide them with drink, and accompany them. Showing hospitality for guests surpasses receiving the Divine Presence as Genesis 18:3 states: "And he saw and behold there were three people."
Accompanying them is greater than showing them hospitality. Our Sages said: "Whoever does not accompany them is considered as if he shed blood."
ב
שכר הלויה מרובה מן הכל והוא החק שחקקו אברהם אבינו ודרך החסד שנהג בה מאכיל עוברי דרכים ומשקה אותן ומלוה אותן וגדולה הכנסת אורחים מהקבלת פני שכינה שנאמר וירא והנה שלשה אנשים ולוויים יותר מהכנסתן אמרו חכמים כל שאינו מלוה כאילו שופך דמים:
3
We compel people to accompany wayfarers in the same manner as we compel them to give charity. The court would prepare agents to accompany people who travel from place to place. If they were lax in this matter, it is considered as if they shed blood. 11 Even a person who accompanies a colleague for four cubits will receive a great reward.
What is the extent to which a person must accompany a colleague? A teacher must accompany his student to the outskirts of the city. A person must accompany a colleague to the city's Sabbath limits. A student must accompany his teacher for a parsah. If he was his master teacher, he must accompany him until three parseot.
ג
כופין ללוייה כדרך שכופין לצדקה ובית דין היו מתקנין שלוחין ללוות אדם העובר ממקום למקום ואם נתעצלו בדבר זה מעלה עליהם כאילו שפכו דמים אפילו המלוה את חבירו ארבע אמות יש לו שכר הרבה וכמה שיעור לויה שחייב אדם בה הרב לתלמיד עד עבורה של עיר והאיש לחבירו עד תחום שבת והתלמיד לרב עד פרסה ואם היה רבו מובהק עד שלש פרסאות:
4
It is a mitzvah incumbent on everyone to visit the sick. Even a person of great spiritual stature should visit one of lesser stature. One may visit many times during the day. Whoever increases the frequency of his visits is praiseworthy provided he does not become burdensome. Whoever visits a sick person removes a portion of his sickness and relieves him. Whoever does not visit the sick is consider as if he shed blood.
ד
בקור חולים מצוה על הכל אפילו גדול מבקר את הקטן ומבקרין הרבה פעמים ביום וכל המוסיף משובח ובלבד שלא יטריח וכל המבקר את החולה כאילו נטל חלק מחליו והקל מעליו וכל שאינו מבקר כאילו שופך דמים:
5
We do not visit the sick except from the third day onward. If, however, a person became ill suddenly and his illness became very severe, he should be visited immediately.
We do not visit the sick during the first three hours of the day, nor in the last three hours because his attendants are tending to the sick person's needs. We do not visit patients with stomach illnesses, eye illnesses, or headaches because the visits are difficult for them.
ה
אין מבקרין את החולה אלא מיום שלישי והלאה ואם קפץ עליו החולי והכביד מבקרין אותו מיד ואין מבקרין את החולה לא בשלש שעות ראשונות ביום ולא בשלש אחרונות מפני שהן מתעסקין בצרכי החולה ואין מבקרין לא חולי מעיים ולא חולי העין ולא מחושי הראש מפני שהבקור קשה להן:
6
When one comes to visit a sick person, he should not sit on a bed, nor on a chair, nor on a bench, nor on a high place, nor above the invalid's head. Instead, he should wrap himself in a tallit, sit below his head, entreat God for mercy on his behalf and depart.
ו
הנכנס לבקר את החולה לא ישב לא על גבי מטה ולא על גבי כסא ולא על גבי ספסל ולא על גבי מקום גבוה ולא למעלה ממראשותיו אלא מתעטף ויושב למטה ממראשותיו ומבקש עליו רחמים ויוצא:
7
It appears to me that comforting mourners takes precedence over visiting the sick. For comforting mourners is an expression of kindness to the living and the dead.
ז
יראה לי שנחמת אבלים קודם לבקור חולים שנחום אבלים גמילות חסד עם החיים ועם המתים:
8
When a person is faced with either tending to a corpse or a bride, he should leave the bride and occupy himself with the corpse. Thus Ecclesiastes 7:4 states: "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning."
When a corpse and a bride confront each other on a road, the corpse is turned aside before the bride. Both of these should turn aside before a king
ח
מי שהיה לפניו מת וכלה מניח את הכלה ומתעסק עם המת וכן הוא אומר לב חכמים בבית אבל וגו' מת וכלה שפגעו זה בזה בדרך מעבירין את המת מלפני הכלה וזה וזה עוברין מלפני המלך:
9
We nullify Torah study for a funeral and for a wedding. When does the above apply? When there are not enough people to care for a corpse. If there are enough people to care for it, Torah study should not nullified. Whoever does not occupy himself with Torah study is obligated to occupy himself with the corpse.
ט
מבטלין תלמוד תורה להוצאת המת ולהכנסת הכלה במה דברים אמורים בשאין לו כל צרכו אבל יש לו כל צרכו אין מבטלין וכל שאין מתעסקין בתורה חייבין להתעסק עמו:
10
If there is one corpse in a city, all the inhabitants of the city are forbidden to perform work until they bury him. If there is a person responsible for tending to the needs of funeral, the others are permitted.
י
מת אחד בעיר כל בני העיר אסורין בעשיית מלאכה עד שיקברוהו ואם יש לו מי שיתעסק בצרכיו מותרין:
11
When a Torah scholar dies, unless there are 600,000 to accompany him, we nullify Torah study for his funeral. If there are 600,000, we do not nullify Torah study. If he would also teach others, there is no limit. Instead, we nullify everyone from their ordinary activity for his funeral.
יא
תלמיד חכם שמת אפילו היו עמו עד ששים רבוא מבטלין תלמוד תורה להוצאתו היו ששים רבוא אין מבטלין ואם היה מלמד לאחרים אין לו שיעור אלא מבטלין הכל להוצאתו:
12
We bury the dead of the gentiles, comfort their mourners, and visit their sick, as an expression of the ways of peace.
יב
קוברין מתי עכו"ם ומנחמין אביליהם ומבקרין חוליהם מפני דרכי שלום:
13
It is forbidden to benefit from a cemetery. What is implied? We do not eat or drink, perform work read the Torah or study the Oral Law within them. The general principle is: We do not benefit from them nor act frivolously within them.
A person should not walk within four cubits of a grave with tefillin in his hand or a Torah scroll in his arm, nor should he pray there. At a distance of four cubits, this is permitted.
יג
בתי הקברות אסורין בהנאה כיצד אין אוכלין בהן ואין שותין בהן ואין עושין בהן מלאכה ולא קורין בהן ולא שונין בהן כללו של דבר אין ניאותין בהן ולא נוהגין בהן קלות ראש לא ילך אדם בתוך ארבע אמות של קבר ותפילין בידו וספר תורה בזרועו ולא יתפלל שם וברחוק ארבע אמות מותר:
14
When a person is transporting the bones of a corpse from one place to another, he should not put them in a leather sack, place them on a donkey and ride upon them, because this is treating them contemptuously. If he was afraid of thieves or robbers, this is permitted.
יד
המוליך עצמות ממקום למקום לא יתנם בדיסקיא ויניחם על גבי חמורו וירכב עליהם מפני שנוהג בהן מנהג בזיון ואם היה מתיירא מפני הגנבים ומפני הליסטים מותר:
15
We do not move a corpse from one grave to another, even from a denigrating site to an honorable one. If the grave was located in another person's property, the corpse may be moved even from an honorable site to a denigrating one.
טו
אין מפנין את המת מקבר לקבר אפילו מבזוי למכובד ואם היה בתוך שדהו מפנהו אפילו ממכובד לבזוי:
16
We do not bury one corpse on top of another, nor do we bury two corpses together, for this is denigrating. A baby who sleeps with his mother may be buried with her.
טז
אין קוברין מת על גבי מת ולא שני מתים כאחד שבזיון הוא וקטן הישן עם אמו נקבר עמה:
17
It is not forbidden to benefit from the earth of a grave. For ordinary earth never becomes forbidden. It is, by contrast, forbidden to benefit from a building which is a grave.
יז
עפר הקבר אינו אסור בהנאה שאין קרקע עולם נאסרת אבל קבר הבניין אסור בהנאה:
18
When a person builds a grave for a deceased person, the grave does not become forbidden until the corpse is placed inside. Even if one places a stillborn infant in a grave, the prohibition against benefiting from it takes effect.
יח
הבונה קבר למת לא נאסר עד שיכנס בו המת ואפילו הטיל בו נפל נאסר בהנאה:
19
The following rules apply when a monument is built for the sake of a living person and a corpse is placed within. If one row of bricks was added for the sake of the deceased person, it is forbidden to derive benefit from the entire monument even after the corpse was removed from there. If one recognized the addition, one may remove it and then the remainder is permitted. If the monument was made for the sake of the deceased, once the corpse was placed in it, it becomes forbidden even though the corpse was removed.
יט
נפש שנעשה לשם חי ושם בו המת והוסיף בו דימוס אחר לשם המת אע"פ שפנה המת הכל אסור בהנאה ואם הכיר את התוספת חולץ אותה והשאר מותר נעשה לשם המת כיון שהוטל בו המת נאסר אע"פשפנהו:
20
When a person builds a grave for his father and then buries his father's corpse in another grave, he should never bury another corpse in that grave. Instead, it is forbidden to benefit from this grave forever as an expression of respect for his father.
כ
הבונה קבר לאביו והלך וקברו בקבר אחר הרי זה לא יקבר בו מת אחר עולמית והקבר הזה אסור בהנאה מפני כבוד אביו:
21
It is forbidden to benefit from a corpse with the exception of its hair. One may benefit from hair, because it is not his body. Similarly, it is forbidden to benefit from the coffin and the shrouds. There is no prohibition against benefiting from garments prepared to be used as shrouds. Even if one knitted a garment to be used for a corpse, they are not forbidden until they reach the bier which is buried with him. For designation of an article to be used for a corpse does not cause it to be forbidden.
כא
המת אסור בהנאה כולו חוץ משערו שהוא מותר בהנאה מפני שאינו גופו וכן ארונו וכל תכריכיו אסורין בהנאה אבל כלים המוכנים לתכריך לא נאסרו בהנאה אפילו ארג בגד למת לא נאסר עד שיגיע במטה הנקברת עמו שאין ההזמנה אוסרת:
22
It is forbidden to benefit from all the garments thrown upon the deceased on the bier which is buried with him, so that because of them, confusion will not arise with regard to shrouds.
כב
כל הכלים שזורקין על המת על המטה הנקברת עמו אסורין בהנאה שלא יתחלפו בתכריכין:
23
If a person's father or mother were throwing garments on the bier in their extreme aggravation, it is a mitzvah for others to save them. If they reached the bier which is buried with the corpse, we do not save them.
כג
היו אביו ואמו מזרקין כלים בחמתן על המת מצוה על אחרים להצילן ואם הגיעו למטה הנקברת עמו אין מצילין אותן:
24
We teach a person that he should not recklessly destroy property and through it to oblivion. It is better to give it to the poor than to throw it to maggots and worms. Whoever casts many articles on a deceased person violates the commandment against destroying property.
כד
מלמדין את האדם שלא יהא חבלן ולא יפסיד את הכלים וישליכם לחבלה מוטב לתתם לעניים ואל ישליכם לרמה ותולעה וכל המרבה כלים על המת עובר בלא תשחית:
25
When a king dies, we ruin the horse that he would ride upon and the calf that pulls the wagon in which he would sit. We cut off its hooves from below the knee, a place that does not render it trefe.
We convene a yeshivah at his grave for seven days, as II Chronicles 32:33 states: "They honored him in his death." Our Sages interpret this as meaning: they convened a yeshivah at his grave. When a nasi dies, we do not nullify his yeshivah for more than 30 days.
כה
מלך שמת עוקרין סוס שהיה רוכב עליו ועגלה שהיתה מושכת בקרון שהיה יושב בו מנשר פרסותיה מן הארכובה ולמטה מקום שאין עושה אותה טריפה ומושיבין ישיבה על קברו שבעה ימים שנאמר וכבוד עשו לו במותו זה שהושיבו לו ישיבה על קברו ונשיא שמת אין מבטלין ישיבתו יתר על שלשים יום:
26
When a king or a nasi dies, one may burn his bed and all his personal utensils. This is not considered as an Amorite or destructive practice. For Jeremiah 34:5 states: "You shall die in peace, and as they made pyres for your ancestors, the earlier kings..., they will make pyres for you."
כו
מלך או נשיא שמת יש להן לשרוף מטתו וכל כלי תשמישו ואין בזה דרך האמורי ולא משום השחתה שנאמר בשלום תמות ובמשרפות אבותיך הראשונים ישרפו לך:
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Edut Edut - Chapter 17, Edut Edut - Chapter 18, Edut Edut - Chapter 19
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassEdut - Chapter 17
1
When many men of great wisdom and fear of God testify to a person and tell him that they saw so-and-so commit a particular transgression or borrow money from a colleague, although the listener believes the matter in his heart as if he saw it actually transpire, he may not deliver testimony unless he actually sees the matter or the borrower acknowledges the debt verbally to him, saying: "Be a witness for me that so-and-so lent me a maneh." These concepts are derived from Leviticus 5:1 which states: "And should he witness, see, or know of the matter...." There is no testimony that can be established through sight or knowledge alone except testimony involving financial matters.
Whenever a person delivers testimony on the basis of the statements of others, he is a false witness and transgresses a negative commandment, as Exodus 20:16 states: "Do not bear false witness against your neighbor."
א
מי שהעידו לו אנשים רבים וגדולים בחכמה וביראה שהם אומרים שראו פלוני שעבר עבירה פלונית או שלוה מפלוני אף על פי שהוא מאמין הדבר בלבו כאילו ראהו לא יעיד עד שיראה הדבר בעיניו או יודה לו הלוה מפיו ויאמר לו היה עלי עד שפלוני הלוה לי מנה שנאמר והוא עד או ראה או ידע ואין לך עדות שמתקיימת בראייה או בידיעה אלא עדות ממון וכל המעיד מפי אחרים הרי זה עד שקר ועובר בלא תעשה שנאמר לא תענה ברעך עד שקר:
2
Therefore, we issue a warning also to witnesses who testify regarding financial matters.
How do we warn them? We issue this warning in the presence of all onlookers, telling them the severity of bearing false testimony and the shame suffered by those who deliver such testimony in this world and in the world to come.
Afterwards, we order all other people to go outside and leave the witness of the greatest stature inside. We say to him: "Tell us the basis on which you know that this person owes money to that." If he says: "He told me that the borrower said that I owe him the money," or he says: "So-and-so told me that he owed him money," his statements are of no consequence. He must say: "In our presence, the defendant admitted to the plaintiff that he owes him the money."
Afterwards, we bring in the second witness and check his testimony in this manner. If their testimony corroborates each other's, the judges deliberate over the matter and conclude the judgment.
ב
לפיכך מאיימין אף על עדי הממון וכיצד מאיימין עליהן [מאיימין עליהם] בפני הכל ומודיעין אותן כח עדות שקר ובושת המעיד בה בעולם הזה ובעולם הבא ואחר כך מוציאין את כל האדם לחוץ ומשיירין את הגדול שבעדים ואומר לו אמור היאך אתה יודע שזה חייב לזה אם אמר שהוא אמר לי חייב אני לו או איש פלוני אמר לי שהוא חייב לו לא אמר כלום עד שיאמר בפנינו הודה לו שהוא חייב לו והיו מכניסין את העד השני ובודקין אותו כך נמצאו דבריהן מכוונין נושאין ונותנין בדבר וגומרין הדין:
3
The following rules apply if a person hid witnesses against his colleague and that colleague acknowledged his obligation to him in private. The witnesses saw and heard him tell him: "Certainly, I owe you this and this amount, but I am afraid you will call me to judgment tomorrow." This is not valid testimony unless he makes the acknowledgment in the presence of witnessess.
ג
המטמין עדים לחבירו והודה לו בינו לבין עצמו והעדים רואין ושומעין שהוא אומר לו ודאי יש לך אצלי כך וכך אבל מתיירא אני שמא תכופני בדין למחר הרי זו אינה עדות עד שיודה בפני עדים:
4
Whether a person acknowledged a debt to a colleague, making the admission in a sincere manner that he owes him such-and-such an amount, he told the witnesses: "You are my witnesses," or he told them "Serve as witnesses for me," they are valid witnesses. This applies whether the statement is made by the borrower or whether it is made by the lender and the borrower remains silent as if he is accepting his words. Needless to say, it applies if he affirmed the appointment with an act of contract, telling them: "Compose a legal document stating that I owe so-and-so this-and-this amount," or the like, his statement is considered as an admission and the witnesses may testify on this basis.
ד
אחד המודה בפני עדים ואמר דרך הודאה זה יש לו אצלי כך וכך או שאמר אתם עדי או שאמר היו עלי עדים בין שאמר הלוה בין שאמר המלוה ושתק הלוה דרך מאמין לדבריו הרי אלו עדים ואין צריך לומר אם קנו מידו או שאמר להם כתבו עלי שטר שיש לזה אצלי כך וכך וכל כיוצא בדברים אלו הרי הם הודאה ומעידין על פיו:
5
When a teacher tells a student: "You know that if they would give me all the money in the world, I would not lie. So-and-so owes me a maneh. I have one witness against him. Please, join him." If he joins him, he is a false witness.
ה
תלמיד שאמר לו רבו יודע אתה שאם נותנין לי כל ממון העולם איני משקר מנה יש לי אצל פלוני ויש לי עליו עד אחד לך והצטרף עמו אם נצטרף הרי זה עד שקר:
6
If he tells him: "Come and stand together with the witness. You do not have to testify, but the borrower will become frightened and panic, thinking that you are two witnesses and he will admit the debt on his own volition," the student is forbidden to stand and make it appear that he is a witness even though he does not deliver testimony. With regard to this and similar matter, Exodus 23:7 states: "Keep distant from words of falsehood."
ו
אמר לו בוא ועמוד עם העד ולא תעיד כדי שיראה הלוה ויפחד ויעלה על דעתו שאתם שני עדים ויודה מעצמו הרי זה אסור לעמוד ולהראות שהוא עד אע"פ שאינו מעיד ועל זה וכיוצא בו נאמר מדבר שקר תרחק:
7
A person who hires false witnesses to testify against a colleague is not liable according to mortal law, but does have a moral and spiritual obligation. Similarly, one witness who refrains from testifying is not liable according to mortal law, but does have a moral and spiritual obligation.
ז
השוכר עדי שקר להעיד לחבירו פטור מדיני אדם וחייב בדיני שמים וכן עד אחד שכבש עדותו ולא העיד פטור מדיני אדם וחייב בדיני שמים:
Edut - Chapter 18
1
When a person delivered false testimony and witnesses testify to that fact, he is called an eid zomeim, "a conspiring witness."
It is a positive mitzvah to requite him in the manner in which he desired through his testimony to effect his colleague. If witnesses testify with regard to a transgression for which one is liable to be stoned to death and it is proved that they testified falsely, they are all stoned. If the transgression was punishable by being burned to death, they are burned to death. Similar laws apply with regard to other forms of capital punishment.
If they testified falsely with regard to a transgression punishable by lashes, each one of them is lashed as are all those obligated to be lashed. We estimate their capacity to bear the lashes and they are lashed. If they testified falsely to obligate the defendant to make a financial payment, we divide that amount according to the number of lying witnesses. Each witness must pay his share. The lying witnesses do not receive lashes when they are required to make financial reimbursement.
א
מי שהעיד בשקר ונודע בעדים שהעיד בשקר זהו שנקרא עד זומם ומצות עשה לעשות לו כמה שרצה לעשות בעדותו לחבירו אם בעבירה שחייבין עליה סקילה העידו והוזמו נסקלין כולן ואם בשרפה נשרפין וכן שאר המיתות ואם העידו במלקות לוקה כל אחד מהן כשאר מחוייבי מלקות ואומדין כחו ומלקין אותו ואם העידו לחייבו ממון משלשין הממון ביניהן לפי מנין העדים כל אחד ואחד יתן חלק המגיע לו ואין לוקין במקום תשלומין:
2
When does the above apply? When the witnesses were disqualified through hazamah? When, however, the testimony of two pairs of witnesses contradict each other, both testimonies are of no consequence, but neither of them receives punishment, because we do not know which pair is lying.
What is the difference between testimony which is contradicted and testimony which is disqualified through hazamah? A contradiction concerns the testimony itself. One pair states: "This is what took place," and the other pair states: "It never took place," or that conclusion was obvious from his statements. Hazamah, by contrast, focuses on the witnesses themselves. The witnesses who disqualify them do not know whether the event happened or not.
What is implied? Witnesses come and say: "We saw so-and-so kill a person..." or "...lend money to so-and-so on this-and-this date in this-and-this place." After they testified and the testimony was investigated, two other witnesses came and said: "On that day, we were with you and with those people the entire day and those things never happened. He never killed him," or "...He never lent him." This is considered a contradiction.
Similarly, if witnesses say: "How can you testify in this manner. Either the murderer - or the victim or the borrower or the lender - were with us on that day in another city," the testimony is considered to be contradicted. This is as if they said: "So-and-so did not kill him..." or "So-and-so did not lend him, for they were together with us and this thing did not happen." Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
If, however, the second pair of witnesses say: "We do not know if so-and-so killed so-and-so on this day in Jerusalem as you say or not. We are, however, testifying that you yourselves were with us in Babylon on that date," the first pair of witnesses are considered as zomeimim and they are executed or required to make financial restitution. The rationale is that the witnesses who disqualified them did not concern themselves with the testimony itself whether it was true or false, but with the presence of the witnesses in the place mentioned.
ב
במה דברים אמורים בעדים שהוזמו אבל שתי כתות המכחישות זו את זו ואין כאן עדות אין עונשין את אחת מהן לפי שאין אנו יודעים מי היא הכת השקרנית ומה בין הכחשה להזמה ההכחשה בעדות עצמה זאת אומרת היה הדבר הזה וזאת אומרת לא היה הדבר הזה או יבא מכלל דבריה שלא היה וההזמה בעדים עצמן ואלו העדים שהזימום אינן יודעים אם נהיה הדבר או לא היה כיצד עדים שבאו ואמרו ראינו זה שהרג את הנפש או לוה מנה לפלוני ביום פלוני במקום פלוני ואחר שהעידו ונבדקו באו שנים אחרים ואמרו ביום זה ובמקום זה היינו עמכם ועם אלו כל היום ולא היו דברים מעולם לא זה הרג את זה ולא זה הלוה את זה הרי זו הכחשה וכן אם אמרו להם היאך אתם מעידים כך וזה ההורג או הנהרג או הלוה או המלוה היה עמנו ביום זה במדינה אחרת הרי זו עדות מוכחשת שזה כמי שאמר לא הרג זה את זה ולא זה הלוה את זה שהרי עמנו היו ולא נהיה דבר זה וכן כל כיוצא בדברים אלו אבל אם אמרו להם אנו אין אנו יודעים אם זה הרג זה ביום זה בירושלים כמו שאתם אומרין או לא הרגו ואנו מעידים שאתם עצמכם הייתם עמנו ביום זה בבבל הרי אלו זוממים ונהרגין או משלמין הואיל והעדים שהזימום לא השגיחו על עצמה של עדות כלל אם אמת היה או שקר:
3
The fact that the Torah accepted the word of the latter pair of witnesses instead of that of the first pair of witnesses is a Scriptural decree. Even if there were 100 in the first group of witnesses and two witnesses came and disqualified them all through hazamah, saying: "We testify that all 100 of you were together with us on this date in this place," the 100 witnesses are punished on the basis of their testimony. For two witnesses are equivalent to 100 and 100 are equivalent to two. Similarly, when two groups of witnesses contradict each other, we do not follow the majority instead, we nullify the testimony of both.
ג
וזו שהאמינה תורה עדות האחרונים על העדים הראשונים גזירת הכתוב הוא אפילו היו העדים הראשונים מאה ובאו שנים והזימום ואמרו להם אנו מעידים שאתם המאה כולכם עמנו הייתם ביום פלוני במקום פלוני הרי אלו נענשין על פיהם שהשנים כמאה ומאה כשנים וכן בשתי כיתי עדים המכחישות זו את זו אין הולכין אחר הרוב אלא דוחין את שתיהן:
4
There is no need for lying witnesses to be given a warning.
When the testimony of witnesses was first contradicted and ultimately, disqualified through hazamah, the lying witnesses are executed, lashed, or forced to make financial restitution. The rationale is that a contradiction is the first stage of hazamah. It is not, however, completed.
ד
עדים זוממין אינן צריכין התראה ועדים שהוכחשו ולבסוף הוזמו הרי אלו נהרגין או לוקין או משלמין מפני שהכחשה תחלת הזמה היא אלא שעדיין לא נגמרה:
5
The testimony of witnesses can be disqualified through hazamah only in their presence. It can, however, be contradicted outside their presence.
When the testimony of witnesses has been disqualified through hazamah outside the presence of the witnesses, it is considered to have been contradicted. Therefore if the witnesses who have been disqualified through hazamah die before the testimony disqualifying them is delivered in their presence, their testimony is nullified, for the two testimonies contradicted each other.
ה
אין מזימין את העדים אלא בפניהם ומכחישין את העדים שלא בפניהם ועדים שהוזמו שלא בפניהן הרי הוכחשו לפיכך אם מתו העדים שהזימום קודם שיזימו אותם בפניהם אין כאן עדות שהרי הכחישו זה את זה:
6
When the testimony of witnesses in cases of capital punishment was contradicted, but was not disqualified through hazamah, they do not receive lashes. This is true, even if the person they testified was killed comes himself to court to prove the suspected murderer's innocence. The rationale is that the prohibition is punishable by execution. Hence, lashes are not given because of it. Nevertheless, the court has the witnesses beaten with stripes for rebellious conduct according to their perception of the severity of the matter.
ו
עדי נפשות שהוכחשו ולא הוזמו אפילו בא הנהרג ברגליו אינם לוקין מפני שהוא לאו שניתן לאזהרת מיתת בית דין ואין לוקין עליו אבל בית דין מכין אותן מכת מרדות כפי מה שיראו:
7
A public announcement must be made with regard to lying witnesses. What type of announcement is made? A proclamation is written and sent throughout every city: "So-and-so and so-and-so testified in this manner. They were disqualified through hazamah and executed," "...lashed in our presence," or "fined so-and-so many dinarim." The necessity for this is derived from Deuteronomy 19:20: "Those who remain shall hear and become fearful."
ז
עדים זוממים צריכין הכרזה והיאך היא ההכרזה שלהן כותבין ושולחין בכל עיר ועיר פלוני ופלוני העידו בכך וכך והוזמו והרגנום או לקו בפנינו או ענשנו אותן כך וכך דינרין שנאמר והנשארים ישמעו וייראו:
8
The obligation of lying witnesses to make financial restitution when required is considered as a fine. Therefore, they are not required to pay when they admit their own guilt.
What is implied? The witnesses delivered testimony and their testimony was investigated by the court. Afterwards, they both admitted: "We delivered false testimony. This person does not owe the other person anything." Or they said: "We gave testimony concerning so-and-so with regard to this-and-this amount and we were disqualified through hazamah." They are not required to make restitution because of their own statements.
If, however, they said: "We gave testimony concerning so-and-so, we were disqualified through hazamah in the court of so-and-so and we were obligated to give him this-and-this amount," they are required to make financial restitution. For this is an admission of debt with regard to money that they were already sentenced to pay.
If one witness makes such statements, he is obligated to pay his portion.
ח
חיוב העדים זוממים לשלם במקום שחייבין לשלם קנס הוא ולפיכך אין משלמין על פי עצמן כיצד הרי שהעידו ונחקרה עדותן בבית דין ואח"כ אמרו שניהם עדות שקר העדנו ואין לזה אצל זה כלום או שאמרנו העדנו על זה בכך וכך והוזמנו אין משלמין על פיהן אבל אם אמרו העדנו על זה והוזמנו בבית דינו של פלוני ונתחייבנו ליתן לו כך וכך הרי אלו משלמין שזו הודאה בממון שנגמר דינו ליתנו ואם אמר האחד כך משלם חלקו:
Edut - Chapter 19
1
The following rules apply when two witnesses testify, saying: "So-and-so murdered a person in the eastern portion of the hall at this-and-this time," two other witnesses came and said: "You were together with us in the western portion of the hall at that time." If a person standing in the western portion could see what transpires in the eastern portion, they are not disqualified through hazamah. If, however, it is impossible to see what transpires, they are disqualified through hazamah. We do not say perhaps the eyesight of the first pair is very powerful and they can see things which transpire at a greater distance than all other men.
Similar principles apply if two people testified saying: "In the morning, so-and-so committed murder in Jerusalem," and two others come and tell them: "On that day, in the evening, you were together with us in Lod." If it is possible for a person to travel, even on horseback, from Jerusalem to Lod from the morning to the evening, they are not disqualified through hazamah. If not, they are disqualified through hazamah. We do not say perhaps they found a speedy camel and were able to travel the route faster than usual. Instead, we always calculate the matter using according to the known standards and disqualify them through hazamah.
א
שנים שהעידו ואמרו במזרח הבירה הרג זה את הנפש בשעה פלונית ובאו שנים ואמרו להן במערב הבירה הזאת הייתם עמנו בעת הזאת אם יכול העומד במערב לראות מה שבמזרח אינן זוממין ואם אינו יכול לראות הרי אלו זוממין ואין אומרין שמא מאור עיניהם של ראשונים רב ורואין מרחוק יתר מכל אדם וכן אם העידו שנים ואמרו בבקר הרג זה את הנפש בירושלים ובאו שנים ואמרו להן ביום זה בערב הייתם עמנו בלוד אם יכול אדם להלך אפילו על הסוס מירושלים ללוד מבקר עד ערב אינן זוממין ואם לאו הרי אלו זוממין ואין אומרין שמא כר קל ביותר נזדמן להן וקפלו את הדרך אלא בדבר המצוי הידוע לכל משערין לעולם ומזימין אותן:
2
The following rules apply when two witnesses state: "On Sunday, so-and-so murdered a person in this-and-this place," and two other witnesses came and said: "On that date, you were together with us in another far removed place, but so-and-so certainly murdered the victim on the following day," the murderer and the first pair of witnesses are executed. Even if the second pair of witnesses testify that he committed the murder several days previously,the above laws apply. The rationale is that at the time they delivered testimony, the murderer had not yet been sentenced to death.
If, however, two witnesses come on Tuesday, and say: "On Sunday, so-and-so was sentenced to death," and two others come on Tuesday and say: "On Sunday, you were together with us in this distant place, but so-and-so was sentenced to death on Friday or on Monday," these witnesses are not executed. The rationale is that at the time they testified, the person had already been sentenced to death.
Similar principles apply with regard to the payment of a fine. What is implied? Two people came on Tuesday and said: "On Sunday, so-and-so stole, slaughtered the animal he stole, and was sentenced to pay a fine of four or five times the animal's worth." Two other witnesses come and testify: "On Sunday, you were with us in a distant place, but he was sentenced on Friday" - or even if they said: "On Sunday, so-and-so stole, slaughtered the animal he stole, and was sentenced on Monday," the witnesses who were disqualified through hazamah are not required to make financial restitution. The rationale is that at the time they testified against him, the defendant was obligated to make financial restitution. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ב
שנים שאמרו באחד בשבת הרג זה את הנפש במקום פלוני ובאו שנים ואמרו ביום זה עמנו הייתם במקום אחר רחוק אבל ביום שלאחר יום זה הרגו בודאי אפילו העידו האחרונים שקודם כמה ימים הרגו הרי זה ההורג עם עדיו הראשונים נהרגין שהרי הוזמו שבעת שהעידו שהרג עדיין לא נגמר דינו ליהרג אבל באו שני עדים בשלישי בשבת ואמרו באחד בשבת נגמר דינו של פלוני להריגה ובאו שנים ואמרו באחד בשבת עמנו הייתם במקום פלוני הרחוק אלא מערב שבת או בשני בשבת נגמר דינו אין עדים אלו שהוזמו נהרגין שהרי מכל מקום בעת שהעידו עליו כבר נגמר דינו להריגה וכן לענין תשלומי קנס כיצד באו שנים בשלישי בשבת ואמרו באחד בשבת גנב וטבח ונגמר דינו ובאו שנים ואמרו באחד בשבת עמנו הייתם במקום רחוק אבל בערב שבת נגמר דינו אפילו אמרו [באחד] בשבת גנב וטבח ומכר ובשני בשבת נגמר דינו אין עדים אלו שהוזמו משלמין שהרי מכל מקום בעת שהעידו עליו חייב היה לשלם וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
3
The witnesses to a legal document may not be disqualified through hazamah unless they testify in court, saying: "We composed the legal document at the time stated. We did not delay the dating of it." If they did not say this, even though a document composed in Jerusalem is dated the first of Nisan and witnesses come and testify that the witnesses to the legal document were in Babylon on that date, the legal document is acceptable and the witnesses are acceptable. For it is possible that they composed the legal document and postdated it, i.e., they were in Jerusalem on the first of Adar and composed the legal document and postdated it, dating it the first of Nisan.
The following rules apply when, by contrast, they said: "We signed the document on the date stated," and they were disqualified through hazamah. If there are witnesses who know the day they signed the legal document or witnesses saw the legal document with their signatures on it on this-and-this date, once they are disqualified through hazamah, they are disqualified retroactively from the date on which it is known that they signed the legal document. The rationale is that witnesses who sign a legal document are considered as if their testimony was delivered in court from the time they signed.
If, however, there are no witnesses who saw them sign, giving testimony, nor did any see the signed document beforehand, the witnesses are disqualified only from the time they testified in court that the signature was theirs, saying: "We signed it on that date." The rationale is that it is possible that on the date that they testified in court, they signed a legal document that had existed for many years and they lied by saying: "We signed it on the day it was dated."
ג
אין עדי השטר נעשין זוממין עד שיאמרו בבית דין שטר זה בזמנו כתבנוהו ולא אחרנוהו אבל אם לא אמרו כן אע"פ שזמנו של שטר באחד בניסן בירושלים ובאו עדים והעידו שעדי השטר היו עמהם בבבל ביום זה השטר כשר והעדים כשרים שאפשר שכתבוהו ואחרוהו וכשהיו בירושלים באחד באדר כתבו שטר זה שם ואחרו זמנו וכתבו זמנו בניסן אמרו בזמנו כתבנוהו והוזמו אם יש שם עדים שיודעים היום שחתמו על השטר או עדים שראו זה השטר וחתימת ידם בו ביום פלוני כיון שהוזמו הרי נפסלו למפרע מיום שנודע שחתמו על השטר שהעדים החתומים על השטר הרי הן כמי שנחקרה עדותן בבית דין בעת החתימה אבל אם אין עדים שראו עדותן ולא ראו השטר מקודם אין נפסלין אלא מעת שהעידו בבית דין שזה כתב ידן ואמרו בזמנו כתבנוהו ואפשר שביום זה שהעידו בבית דין בו ביום חתמו על השטר שיש לו כמה שנים והם שקרו ואמרו בזמנו כתבנו:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Thursday, Elul 23, 5777 · 14 September 2017
"Today's Day"
Thursday, Elul 23, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Nitzavim-Vayeilech, Chamishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 108-112. Also 67-69.
Tanya: XVIII. It is written (p. 485) ...in Likutei Amarim.(p. 487).
When R. Moshe, son of the Alter Rebbe, was between eight and eleven years old, he was studying the passage in Gittin 67a lauding the virtues of the sages. There R. Shimon bar Yochai said, "Learn my midot." R. Moshe was in doubt about the meaning of that last word, since there is Rashi's interpretation, "my teachings," and the simple meaning, "traits of character."
At that moment the Alter Rebbe came in and said, in the chant he habitually used: "The Torah given us is all fine character-traits. Even the punishments there, are in truth acts of kindness and goodness. The two interpretations are one, and interdependent. There can be no fine character-traits without Torah; there can be no Torah without fine character."
Exactly the same incident happened to the Tzemach Tzedek, when he was between eight and eleven.
Daily Thought:
A Real Fool
To live with the truth, you must be a fool. Because the truth is infinite, and we are all fools before the infinite.
What kind of fool?
A fool who does good with simple sincerity
and disregard for worldly opinion.
Learn from this world we live in:
The world is a fool—only that it is a mindless, stupid fool.
You be a fool who reaches beyond the mind.
-------
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